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Digital Hoarding Questionnaire

Do you struggle to let go of your digital possessions? Take this test to find out if you have a 'digital hoarding' habit.

Mark Travers, Ph.D.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D.

December 13, 2023

Mark Travers, Ph.D., is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, responsible for new client intake and placement. Mark received his B.A. in psychology, magna cum laude, from Cornell University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder. His academic research has been published in leading psychology journals and has been featured in The New York Times and The New Yorker, among other popular publications. He is a regular contributor for Forbes and Psychology Today, where he writes about psycho-educational topics such as happiness, relationships, personality, and life meaning. Click here to schedule an initial consultation with Mark or another member of the Awake Therapy team. Or, you can drop him a note here.

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In the ever-evolving digital age, the notion of hoarding has transcended the physical realm, giving rise to a subtle yet pervasive behavior known as "digital hoarding." While traditional hoarding disorder is well-documented, the digital variant involves the accumulation of countless digital files, often leading to stress and disorder in the virtual space. As our lives become increasingly intertwined with technology, understanding and addressing digital hoarding is crucial for maintaining a healthy relationship with our digital possessions.

Unlike physical clutter that is overtly visible, digital hoarding operates on our devices, making it challenging to identify and address. Recognizing this, researchers and psychologists have developed tools to quantify and assess digital hoarding habits.

At the forefront of understanding digital hoarding lies a valuable tool: The Digital Hoarding Questionnaire. Developed to delve into the intricacies of digital possession management, this questionnaire comprises 10 carefully crafted statements that prompt individuals to reflect on their behaviors.

By gauging one's resistance to deletion and emotional connections to files, this questionnaire provides a structured framework for assessing digital hoarding behaviors. Armed with insights from the questionnaire, individuals can embark on a journey of intentional digital curation, fostering a healthier and more mindful relationship with their virtual belongings.

References: Neave, N., Briggs, P., Mckellar, K., & Sillence, E. (2019). Digital hoarding behavious: measurement and evaluation. Computers in Human Behavior, 92, 72-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.01.037

Step 1: Rate the following statements based on how much you agree with them on a scale of strongly disagree to strongly agree.

1. I find it extremely difficult to delete old or unused files.

2. I tend to accumulate digital files, even when they are not directly relevant to my job.

3. Deleting certain files would be like deleting a loved one.

4. If I delete certain files, I feel apprehensive about it afterwards.

5. I strongly resist having to delete certain files.

6. I feel strongly that some files might be useful one day.

7. I lose track of how many digital files I possess.

8. Deleting certain files would be like losing part of myself.

9. Thinking about deleting certain files causes me some emotional discomfort.

10. At times I find it difficult to find certain files because I have so many.

0 of 0 questions answered

Step 2: Enter your age, gender, region, and first name so we can provide you with a detailed report that compares your test scores with people similar to you.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Check to make sure you've provided answers to all of the statements/questions above. Once you've done that, click the button below to send your responses to Awake Therapy's Lead Psychologist, Mark Travers, Ph.D. He will provide you with an overview of how you scored relative to others (all answers are anonymized and confidential to protect users' privacy). He can also answer any follow-up questions you may have.